Posted by Peter Nankai no Kyoufu on March 02, 1998 at 09:42:09:
In Reply to: The Big Six posted by Tim on March 01, 1998 at 04:29:27:
Yes, I think it is one of Ransome's best twelve books! ;-)
But seriously,
It is not a happy tale. The feeling of treachery hangs heavily over the story. Here are some traitors:
George Owdon [of course!]
Harry the Eelman [says it's OK to shoot birds etc, and it"s all they pleasure boats killing off the birds, not egg collecting]
The village people of Horning who dont trust that the D&Gs didnt do it [even the vicar]
Even Tom and the Ds suspected the D&Gs...
I think AR was influenced by Native Trouble when he wrote this story, such as the War and its effect on people and maybe a few young friends of his and Evgenias were lost too.
Captain Flint's Trunk [book by C Hardyment] suggests this too.